WASHINGTON (CNN) – A conservative organization launched a national television ad Friday criticizing the $787 billion stimulus bill, and called into question one of President Obama’s main campaign promises to bring change to Washington.

The American Issues Project uses points of historical reference to show how $787 billion could stretch over time from the birth of Jesus to the current day.

“Suppose you spent one million every single day starting from the day Jesus was born and kept spending through today,” an announcer says as images of the three wise men, the Roman Coliseum, the Mona Lisa and other historic landmarks flash across the screen. A million dollars a day for more than 2,000 years. You would still have spent less money than Congress just did.”

The ad also criticizes millions of dollars in earmarks in the legislation, saying that money was allocated for golf carts, fish hatcheries and remodeled federal offices. The ad also shows a video snippet of Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, on the Senate floor saying the American people don’t care about “little tiny, yes, porky amendments.”

It closes by asking, “Is this change you can believe in?”

The organization said it will spend nearly $1 million on the ad that is scheduled to run on CNN, CNN Headline News, FOX News CNBC and FOX Business Network.

soundoff(212 Responses)

Veteran in Kansas

This is not freedom of speech, it is anti-american propaganda aimed at attacking our elected governmental insitutions and the decisions that they are making in these trying times for no other reason than to do so. While such groups have the right to utter what ever they wish to, if they are not willing to particpate in the formulation of the solution and work with those trying to fix a economic melt down that has taken a number of years to bring about they need to be quite. I do not beleive continuous attacks against economic recovery programs will result in any thing but failure.

February 20, 2009 03:42 pm at 3:42 pm |

Deborah, Detroit

The hypocrites! W. left this mess and now President Obama is trying to fix it. Where was this analogy when W. was running up the national debt? Not a word from the hypocrites.

February 20, 2009 03:42 pm at 3:42 pm |

chris

questioning the wisdom of a massive plan such as this is a 'new low' corey? are we supposed to just mindlessly follow whatever obama does?

February 20, 2009 03:42 pm at 3:42 pm |

bing

I meant "what waste of money."

February 20, 2009 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |

Tiffanie

OMG...I can't believe a Senator was dumb enough to say in an economy such as this that we, as the american people, don't care about pork spending...This stimulus is supposed to be for us... not them and their pet projects... I support the stimulus whole heartedly, but I wish Obama would use a line item veto to get rid of the stupid stuff and re-allocate that money to the REAL PROJECTS

February 20, 2009 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |

Alan

This should be compared with the cost of social services for everyone out of work and out of their homes if nothing (the GOP plan) was done.

Oh - wait - the GOP already has a plan for them. Let them starve.

When people lose their jobs they stop paying taxes. When people lose their homes they require social services just to survive. Subtract those costs from the stimulus bill and you still have enough money left over to lay million dollar bills end-to-end to the birth of Jesus.

A new low for the GOP indeed. If only they would leave the country since they're so unhappy.

February 20, 2009 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |

julie

Oh my God...although "God" has nothing to do with it.....give the man a break......he has been in office....how many days? Not months or years......Time People....it took us how many YEARS to get where we are......people need to shut the pieholes and let the man do his job......

February 20, 2009 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |

MDM-Real VA

Wow .. It is amazing how the Republicans are using my Savior, Jesus Christ in vain. It is vain for them to assume that Jesus only belongs to them. The irony of President Obama is that he is by far acting more Christ Like than any political figure we have seen in the last two decades.

You do not see Obama bashing other people because of "Differences"

You do not see Obama saying one group is better than another group.

You see Obama trying to help those that are less fortunate.

The Wealthy right have convinced the average right that Obama is not a Christian and Evil, to the determent of their ability to see that as a nation we are as strong as our weakest/poorest.

When we fail to educate, provide health care, feed and clothe those less fortunate crime will escalate. Most people hurting now are not just welfate receipients... but people who have lost their jobs.

February 20, 2009 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |

Ryan, Sacramento

It says something that 60% of Americans believe that the Stimulus was a good thing, even though 60% of Americans don't believe that the Stimulus will benefit them personally. Now, the 60% in both stats doesn't cover the same population of people, but it gives me hope that there are those out there that care more about the greater good than themselves.

As for these Repulican attack ads...you can kiss my you-know-what. You got the $50M for the NEA taken out, even though the NEA benefits 3.5 million workers (not a small number) and funds programs like PBS (which your kids watch). And for this rambling idiot below me named "Tony", learn how to use correct grammar. Or did the big bad Government cut funding to your school too?

February 20, 2009 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |

Pat in IL

These people are operating on a middle school level of intelligence. These ads are so ridiculous, I doubt many people will pay any attention to them – what a waste of money and air time.

February 20, 2009 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |

Ryan

Tony,

It's called an education. Look into it. And while you're at it, trying cracking open a book on grammar and sentence structure. You only embarrass yourself.

February 20, 2009 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |

Molly Weasley

The GOP has no shame. Let them waste their money - it's not doing them any good anyway.

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Mike Urciolo

Jesus Christ Himself could appear before the world and say, "Obama is my chosen representative" and the conservatives would still complain. I don't know about the rest of you, but I gave President Bush more than five weeks before I gave up on him.

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Frank B

Tony please speak english? Secondly the economy will NOT fix itself. Something has to be done.

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Ben

Really? Is this what is has come down to? The GOP pounding on the religious imagery to oppose the stimulus simply because they have no other ideas? This is a sorry state of affairs. First – it is time to renew the whole concept of separation of church and state; second, if you oppose the stimulus, please come up with an articulate reason why (don't just froth at the mouth and yell inarticulate blather) and lastly, stop being so partisan and just act like grown-ups, come to the table, work things out and compromise. We are all in this together – stop being so flagrantly crazy.

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Zoe

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the early Christians believed in communal property. This is a deceptive and unproductive tactic. I'd call it surprising, if I didn't expect this and more from our obstructionist friends on the Right.

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Ben

It is amazing that this type of thing hits the air so fast, but no other plans have been offered..... it's clear that the GOP knows how to work fast, but lets get focused on the problem and stop all this crap. If you want to know what the American people are sick of, and want changed, it's the divisive politics that drive people away from the idea that we can be a great nation. I am sick of the negative adds, comments, and ideas coming from the GOP. GIVE US SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN!!! Thats the change that I believe in, and that doesn't come over night.

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Conservatives sucks!!!!!!

Conservatives are the scum of the earth and if it's not their crazy way there is no way.. Repugs just shut up because no one really cares what you think of feel.... dummies

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Rick Beagle

So, this group wraps up their rhetoric in religion and patriotism? Here is a thought, why don't you spend your money telling us how to fix our issues, or better yet, spend that $1M on families that have been destroyed by the policies of the last eight years....

Just a thought.
Rick Beagle

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

aqualynlaury

Say what you will about the stimulus bill –
It's sad that "today's vocals" didn't have much to say over the past 8 years.

How quickly some are to speak on the month +1 anniversary of change – a PROCESS that rarely occurs in one month. "What a prudent use of the funds noted for the ad and any similar commentary," remark a subset of today's vocals. How absolutely PRUDENT.

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

dmjakers

Bush misused economic tools to create a false boom in housing to avoid a normal part of the business cycle - a minor downturn – so he could get reelected. His $3 trillion tax cut gave an average $700,000 ONLY to wealthy Americans - a massive 'redistribution of wealth' away from the middle class. Congressional Dems also voted for it. That CREATED the world-wide catastrophe. Also, Clinton’s repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act permitted creation of companies "too big to fail" that then did fail.
Those who loved the trillion dollar bailout of the super-wealthy last fall now deride any help for the working-class.
Billionaires DON'T start small businesses, they BUY huge corporations using borrowed money, then fire tens of thousands of middle-class workers to pay off the debt. Americans have to stop falling for Republican rhetoric that claims no small businesses will be created if billionaires have to pay their fair share of income taxes.
In truth, who those who benefit most from America's capitalist system pay progressive tax rates, the money creates wealth for the middle class, which ultimately goes right back into the hands of those who own businesses. But all get to participate. When the GOP stops that natural cycle the middle-class are cut out of the cycle and the WHEELS STOP TURNING, which is precisely where we are right now.
It doesn't take an economist to see that when 99.5% of the people are not allowed to benefit from the system their labor pushes along, then they must stop pushing at some point. Why? When they don't benefit they can't eat or have a place to live, which kills their ability to work. Beyond that, they lose interest in bearing all the burden without getting any of the rewards.

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

cjr

le't s get religion out of politics. religion has done more harm than just about anything out there. Most, not all, religious folks don't take responsibity for their actions. time to stop that nonsense.!
We all need to grow up!

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

damned if you do damned if u dont

Cool, you made an ad AFTER something was passed. So the purpose would be to.... what, piss people off? Not seeing why these idiots spent $1 million on a commercial for something that already happened. THAT IS WHAT I CALL A BIG WASTE OF MONEY!

What would they rather we do? Spend that money for a time machine and go back 2,000 and ask Jesus what to do? Maybe give all the money to Sean Hannity and let him rule the world?

the 'Conservative' organizations are the ones who have totally %$*@ this country up for the last 8 years with thier archaic old-world view and cant get thier head out of thier own a$$ets to see maybe they should shut the hell up and let the grown ups handle things for a while.

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

AVEE capitalcityVA

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. If this organization wasn't so far to the right, they could see how wasteful this ad is. $1million on an ad. Why not take that money and help people stay in their homes?
Why not buy school supplies for schools in need?
Why not stock some food banks that are running low?
Why not help soldiers coming home from war get their lives back?
Why not donate that money to a school district, or a boys/girls club?
Oh I forgot. The far right only care about themselves and the wealthy.

February 20, 2009 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |

Kevin McLeod

These people are idiots. I'm so sick and tired of their conservative scare tactics that have nothing to do with the issue. Who cares if $1 trillion stretches to the moon (or sun) and back or if you spent a penny a day you could've started spending back in the time of dinosaurs and still be spending today. It's just a vivid, yet stupid point that does not address the real issue. Where were all these people when Americans were lining up to spend a trillion dollars attacking a country (Iraq) that had never directly attacked us. Don't give me the bad intel business. It makes them seem heartless and more willing to spend money to unilaterally attack people or countries who bother them than they are willing to spend money to help a neighbor or even a relative or just an average American.

The bottom line is, they want to be critical and can't really figure out how so they show pictures or make comparisons that are truly meaningless. I really hope the right gets their act together and starts making some sense. It's important to have contrary opinions that are well-reasoned and not sensational imagery. They better step it up because I would guess this kind of rhetoric will lose them another election in 2010, while we're still blowing through that million dollars a day.